Hillary: What difference does it make if there were no protests in Benghazi?

posted at 12:01 pm on January 23, 2013 by Ed Morrissey

Allahpundit included this in his earlier post as an update, but I have a few thoughts on why this line of questioning matters. Senator Ron Johnson pressed the outgoing Secretary of State for an answer as to how her department and the White House came to declare that the attack erupted spontaneously from a protest outside the consulate when State could see in real time that there wasn’t any such protest under way. A clearly exasperated Clinton shot back, “What difference does it make?”

Well, gosh, I can think of a few reasons why it matters. First, it mattered enough for the Obama administration to send Susan Rice to five different Sunday talk shows to insist that the sacking was a spontaneous demonstration of anger over a months-old YouTube video, while saying that there was “no evidence” that it was a terrorist attack. On one of those appearances, the president of Libya told US audiences the exact opposite — that it was the work of terrorists and that they had a pretty good idea of who they were. If it didn’t matter, what was Susan Rice doing when she tried pushing that meme, which the White House had to abandon within days as leaks within State and CIA made plain that there was no demonstration?

It also matters because Barack Obama at the time had been bragging about crippling al-Qaeda while on the campaign trail. That false narrative made it seem as though State and our intel community couldn’t have possibly known that the sacking would have occurred, and got blindsided by a grassroots reaction to the video. Instead, it turned out to be a planned terrorist action about which the US embassy in Libya had warned State for months, repeatedly requesting more security.

There’s also the matter of Barack Obama’s intervention in Libya and his undeclared war against Moammar Qaddafi. His actions, and that of NATO in following his initial lead, decapitated the ruthless regime that at least was keeping a lid on terrorist networks in eastern Libya. The rise of those networks in the Benghazi region should have been a predictable outcome from the power vacuum the US/NATO campaign left in the region, which resulted in the ability to conduct this attack. That also reflects on the decision to remove the military security at the consulate even with the deteriorating environment very clear to anyone paying attention. That also matters because of how the transfer of weapons to the militias in that US/NATO effort and the resultant power vacuum has destabilized Mali and potentially a wide swath of North Africa.

So it matters because of credibility. There doesn’t seem to be any at the White House or State on any of these issues, nor answers to questions of what exactly this administration did to prepare for the inevitable outcome of its own policies in Libya and the broader Arab Spring. It matters because those policies are going to get more people killed than just the four Americans in Benghazi last September, and already have.

It matters because people lied to the American people for political cover. It matters because you cannot prevent the same thing from happening again if you don’t admit the source of the aggression. It matters because it reflects on the actual competence of people in office; especially you. And right now, you ain’t looking all that competent.

1. President Obama went before the UN, testifying that this spontaneous Attack was generated from a Youtube video. That demanded the world be more sensitive to Muslims. Then the US Government arrested the film maker.

In other words, who gives a sh-t? That’s basically what she was saying. And frankly it’s been the narrative from the Democrat/media complex since mid-September. Benghazi’s no big deal and no one cares about it anyway. I swear if I was a family member of one of the victim’s, I don’t know how I could make it through this with my sanity intact.

On Sep 14th, three days after the event, she’s pushing the video meme, now she says she had nothing to do with the talking points. I hope the House members are ready this afternoon. She’s taking the aggressive stance, hoping if she pushes back hard, they’ll back off.

Disgusting beyond belief. And beyond hope. It’s too late. We’re through the Looking Glass so completely, so lost to the distortions of power and the elitist class, we’re beyond hope, beyond the recovery and uses of outrage. The media won. The Left won. The culture is lost. Now it’s just wait for the ruin, the end result of total social and moral degeneration.

About 100 ways to respond this, but the one I would like to hear is that she works for a president that has spent the majority of his administration blaming Bush for the economy…what difference does it make, we have 8 million fewer people in the labor force and about 20 million who still dont have jobs.

Clinton, like her boss, is a bad person and a liar and it takes a lot for me to say that about anyone

You know, watching this video, I have at least one little glimmer of hope for our country. And that’s because, in spite of everything, there is someone who is as much a part of the elite ruling class as anyone in our country has ever been, and yet she is sitting in front of the elected members of our Congress being given a tough grilling and being forced to give answers to the American people. That is still something pretty damn unique in the history of the world. And something we can still be proud of.

Disgusting beyond belief. And beyond hope. It’s too late. We’re through the Looking Glass so completely, so lost to the distortions of power and the elitist class, we’re beyond hope, beyond the recovery and uses of outrage. The media won. The Left won. The culture is lost. Now it’s just wait for the ruin, the end result of total social and moral degeneration.

rrpjr on January 23, 2013 at 12:08 PM

Something tells me we won’t have quite the smooth transition to atrophied welfare-statism that Europe had post WWII. It’ll be a lot uglier here.

The response to this attack on our ambassador was run by the Obama for President campaign, with media marketing that said it was just a protest got out of hand, you know they rightly hate Americans over there, and complete with Mrs. Clinton recording messages telling foreign countries we have freedom of speech in the US, and the US did not film the video in question. Romney jumped the gun. Romney had a bad week. Romney sees terrorists where there are none. Romney isn’t as good at foreign policy than the president. The media pronounced Mitt Romney unqualified on foreign policy, and unable to run a good campaign…by vilifying OUR opinion that is was a terrorist attack.

Foreign policy played back seat to Obama’s campaign ambitions, one of which was to say that Osama is dead, GM is alive. (AlQueada is run off.)

They botched the job in order to hide it from the public, in order to make Romney the problem, and the media dutifully chirped after them. Remember, not even the NYT had headlines that Benghazi was a terrorist attack until well after they had Petreus out in front with a Scandal.

and yet she is sitting in front of the elected members of our Congress being given a tough grilling

Shump on January 23, 2013 at 12:10 PM

Admittedly, I’m only tuning in occasionally, but so far I’ve missed all the tough grilling. I’ve seen a lot of praise and mention of supposedly good things Hillary has done that have nothing to do with Benghazi, though.

And why was so much energy and treasure invested in the “YouTube Video” fiasco? After all, an apology ad was produced and aired; a man in California has lost his freedom and will have a price on his head for the rest of his life…. That might matter just a little….

Then there’s the fact that without the spinning and damage control, Benghazi could have influenced the election to a greater degree.

You know, watching this video, I have at least one little glimmer of hope for our country. And that’s because, in spite of everything, there is someone who is as much a part of the elite ruling class as anyone in our country has ever been, and yet she is sitting in front of the elected members of our Congress being given a tough grilling and being forced to give answers to the American people. That is still something pretty damn unique in the history of the world. And something we can still be proud of.

Shump on January 23, 2013 at 12:10 PM

Yep, she looked like she was really sweating bullets with all the heated interrogation she received—with a few exceptions.

It’s the difference between an unexpected spontaneous attack and willful negligence in the face a foreseeable threat. She’s a lawyer and knows plenty of ambulance chasers who’ve made a fortune from that difference.

Ask her who’s decision it was to recall the Military Protection Team? Why was it done?

Was she aware of the deteriorating situation in Benghazi? The Attacks on Westerners? The Attack on The British Ambassador? If not why not?

This is your one and only shot

Natebo on January 23, 2013 at 12:14 PM

+100 — those are the keys — Hill & the Dems will continue to stress the little nit-picks like she’s doing, with the goal of deflecting attention from the points you mention, Natebo. And you’re right, there won’t be many more chances to drag this out of her.

“What difference does it make?”; that question will be decided in ’16 when she runs for president.

Tater Salad on January 23, 2013 at 12:12 PM

Naah. Too old and too white. I don’t expect we will see old white people nominated on the dem ticket ever again. That bridge has been crossed and burned.

The hispanic community is everything to the proggies. White liberals are not reproducing, -and thank God for that. The democratic party will have to up their pandering to hispanics continually, because if a hispanic-nationalist party evert starts up, it means the end of the democratic party.

Lemme see! You lied, stalled, and otherwise delayed speaking about this subject for 4 months, feigning illness, a concussion and, God only knows, what else. It matters, OK? You lied! You lied to the victims, their parents, their organizations, and the American people. And now, you have the audacity to feign anger and disdain for the Senators & Congressmen questioning you! Somehow, this probably will get spun as a victory for you & the president, but I don’t see it that way. By the way, I’ll support Joe Biden (gag) for president long before I would you, you witch!

His [Barky] actions, and that of NATO in following his initial lead, decapitated the ruthless regime that at least was keeping a lid on terrorist networks in eastern Libya. The rise of those networks in the Benghazi region should have been a predictable outcome from the power vacuum the US/NATO campaign left in the region, which resulted in the ability to conduct this attack. That also reflects on the decision to remove the military security at the consulate even with the deteriorating environment very clear to anyone paying attention.

I’m convinced none of this was merely incompetence. Barky and Hillfarce’s deliberate withdrawal of security and inattention to the rising terrorist threat smacks of something more sinister to me than just incompetence. It smacks of an evil disregard for our Republic and the need to protect Liberal principles and ideals above all else no matter the collateral damage.

This is amazing, but typical of libs. They just don’t care if they lie and get caught lying. “What difference does it make” if we lie through our teeth to protect our meme that terrorism is on the run. To them it’s just another day at office where you lie and cheat to get what you want. Pretty pathetic.

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They are all CIA field personnel. Government policy for decades has been that CIA field operatives will not be identified publicly, much less called to testify publicly.

You don’t have to like it. It has its flaws … but we do not want to go back to the Church Hearings (an uber-liberal wet dream of the ’70’s) and the massive damage they did to the American intelligence community.

How dare these men question me about my competence and our Team playing politics over the deaths of a few employees that I pretend to care about while I have to waste valuable time pretending to care about this hearing or whatever anybody else thinks about me….excuse me I’m going to cry a little…ok…now appear strong for the camera…. – Behind that smirk on Hillary Clinton’s face at today’s hearing

John Kerry’s confirmation for SecState begins tomorrow. I would love it if one of the Republicans at the hearings asked him if the mismanagment of the department leading up to and including the attack at Benghazi makes a difference. In short, I want this one comment to be an issue.

Not that Kerry will be grilled. He’s a member of the club. This is a pro forma confirmation process.

And, yes, it DOES matter that the Obama administration lied to the American public for WEEKS.

And, yes, it DOES matter that Nakoula Basseley Nakoula was arrested in the middle of the night by 10 Federal agents, perp-walked, and thrown in solitary confinement in a Federal detention centre on an alleged probation violation and sentenced to one year in prison on a misdemeanor charge that YOU WOULD NOT be incarcerated for.

And, yes, it DOES matter that the only justice that has been delivered involves an anti-Muslim filmmaker expressing his First Amendment-protected speech.

And, yes, it DOES matter that none of the real killers have not been brought to justice.

And, yes, it most certainly DOES matter that an administration is incapable of identifying the enemy. You cannot win a war, if you do not know who your enemy is.

What doesn’t make a difference is the amount the House appropriated for Embassy Security. State had $2.3 billion in reserves. The American Embassy in Barbados had more security than the Consulate in Benghazi. 4 days after State denied Stevens’ request for additional security, it approved new Volts and a charging station for the American Embassy in Vienna.

Geez this was such an easy response to counter. All someone had to say is it matters because it has an affect on the security of embassies. After all knowing the cause of anything helps to prevent the problem in the future. I realize that isn’t why she stalled but it would be the one response she couldn’t slough off.

If this was a real hearing with experienced counsel asking the questions rather than a pretend “hearing” (most of which turn into mere opportunities for opposing “statements” from the committee and the witness), the SOS might have received a response along these lines:

I have a suggestion, Madame Secretary. Why don’t you answer the questions and leave it to others to decide if the answers matter or not. If both were left to you, there would be no need for a hearing in the first place, but it doesn’t work that way.

As George Schultz said, in Washington DC “Trust is the coin of the realm”. If people can’t trust you to tell the truth, then you can’t be believed, and nothing you say matters. Hillary got teary recalling talking with the families of those killed, as the caskets were nearby. As I recall, that’s the same venue Obama talked about that “YouTube video”.

Obama and Hillary both lied to shield themselves from the consequences of the truth. That’s the important takeaway from this whole fiasco. The truths matters.

Thank you. I don’t even work in intelligence or the government, but I KNEW about the planned protest at the embassy in Cairo and the real reason it was staged long before our pathetic ruling elite did.

I’m reminded of something someone said many years ago, “The CIA learned about the falling of the Berlin Wall from watching it on CNN.”